Tulsa World: Bartlett selects chief of staff

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Bartlett selects chief of staff
Terry Simonson will also take on the role of general counsel for the mayor-elect.

Mayor-elect Dewey Bartlett (left) and his newly appointed chief of staff and general counsel, Terry Simonson, stand at Bartlett's Keener Oil & Gas offices. MICHAEL WYKE / Tulsa World

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Published: 11/22/2009 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 11/22/2009 3:45 AM

Terry Simonson, a longtime Tulsa political figure who has served in two mayoral administrations and Tulsa County government, will be incoming Mayor Dewey Bartlett's chief of staff and general counsel.

Bartlett said Simonson, 58, was the best choice to be his right-hand man.

"He's a real student of government and how it can work very well for the citizens," Bartlett said. "He's a good idea person and, most importantly, he knows that government shouldn't be oppressive or a hindrance but instead should be there to help, encourage and serve."

Simonson's salary has not been set, but he is assuming roles that have been filled by two people in Mayor Kathy Taylor's administration in order to save money, he and Bartlett said. The budget for the Mayor's Office is being hammered out.

As the chief of staff and general counsel, Simonson will oversee a lot of the day-to-day functions of the city, act as a liaison between the mayor and department heads and, as he is an attorney, be available to offer legal advice.

"What we are working out is the best way to get the most important information to the mayor so he can make all of his decisions he needs to in a timely fashion," Simonson said. "We are gathering a team of smart people."

Bartlett said Simonson would be the "chief architect" of the public policies and initiatives he spoke about on the campaign trail.

"That means an emphasis on economic development, alternative energy and energy-conservation measures, strategic planning and management," he said.

"The success of these efforts will require that we work with the City Council, the city auditor, the county and our state legislative leaders, and Terry will be my point person with each of these partners."

Simonson is Bartlett's first hire. He will officially start his duties after the Dec. 7 swearing-in ceremony.

Simonson will fulfill the mayor's duties when Bartlett is out of town or unavailable, if the City Council approves the line of succession that Bartlett will propose.

The mayor is allowed up to 16 at-will employees under the City Charter.

Bartlett and Simonson are working on making the other selections and deciding who may be held over from Taylor's regime.

Simonson is now Tulsa County's director of development and governmental affairs. He has notified county officials of his impending departure.

Simonson worked for Tulsa Mayors Jim Inhofe and Dick Crawford in several positions including chief of staff, municipal court administrator and chief administrative officer.

Simonson, who spent 20 years in private law practice, also has served on numerous governmental and civic boards, including the third-penny sales tax committee, the Tulsa Economic Development Foundation, the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission and the Community Health Foundation Board of Directors.

He has also been the chairman of the Tulsa County Republican Party and a member of the Oklahoma GOP Executive Committee.

Simonson twice ran for mayor, in 1998 and in 2002.

Simonson said he has continued to be involved in trying to move Tulsa forward because he loves the city.

"This decision by Dewey is really his first major one, and I hope people think that by choosing me he's off to a good start," Simonson said, adding that although he's served in the Mayor's Office before, "it's a new time with new challenges."

Taking the job as Bartlett's chief of staff was a very personal decision for him, Simonson said.

"Every time I ran for mayor, it wasn't because I thought it was my turn or because I thought I had earned it, I just thought I had the right ideas," he said.

"Unfortunately, after two times, it didn't happen. That's a dream I chased and spent a lot of money and life on. I finally told myself I was never going to be mayor.

"But I haven't given up on my ideas. So when Dewey asked me if I would do this, I looked at this as my last chance to show and implement some of them.

"You don't have to be mayor to have good ideas. But you have to have a good mayor who sees good ideas."

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (11/22/2009 2:40:52 AM) I'm still waiting to hear he plans on replacing Palmer. That would make my day, my week, my month, my year.
	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/22/2009 2:53:10 AM) Funny how they used the words "Taylors regime"
	Report Comment Webmeister, Tulsa (11/22/2009 7:20:22 AM) Terry Simonson would be 10 times the Mayor that Dewey, Jr. could ever be.
	Report Comment Observer3, (11/22/2009 8:14:31 AM) This seems to be a step in the right direction. I'd love to know the salaries Kathy Taylor was paying two people to do the job Mr. Simonson will be doing. I hope Mayor-Elect Bartlett cleans house at City Hall and starts fresh with new people who actually know how to run a city and live within a budget. Let's not have a bunch of high-priced, at-will employees who look down their noses at the rest of the City employees, please. This first selection gives me hope that things will change for the better. The last four years have been a nightmare!
	Report Comment Tul1234, Tulsa (11/22/2009 9:44:29 AM) This is a great selection. I don't think Taylor's people will be able to pull any wool over these guys eyes now. Hopefully they will clean house of Taylor's minions and start cleaning up the mess they have created the past 4 years. Start with Palmer and Stout and upper management in IT.
	Report Comment Nuff, (11/22/2009 9:50:05 AM) Excellent choice! Simonson knows how to run the City. He will bring experience to the job.
	Report Comment GrayNoseHair, Tulsa (11/22/2009 9:55:59 AM) Bad, bad sign overall. Simonson is a major GOP partisan as well as a nay-sayer. So much for an open, non-partisan administration. Dewey had such an opportunity to bridge the partisan divide and also improve city employee relations. This kills it.
	Report Comment nativedaughter, (11/22/2009 10:07:23 AM) Sorry GrayNose. You have it wrong. I'm related to some folks at the county and I can tell you both the employees and even Democratic Commissioner Keith will tell you Simonson has never shown any partisanship in getting his job done or helping improve county government. His record is clear and its there. Just ask them. Just wait...you'll see.
	Report Comment Dr. Strangelove, Las Vegas (11/22/2009 10:18:31 AM) Dewey will pay him just less than the combined salaries of the two people he's replacing, and then announce that it's a big savings. That's why you're not seeing them quote a number now. Just wait.
	Report Comment Guillermo, (11/22/2009 11:13:16 AM) Sounds like most of the bloggers have it already figured out. Wait, please give them a chance, quit pre-judging everyone and everything. Why don't you get involved and be part of the solution.
	Report Comment Rupert Shootman, Tulsa (11/22/2009 12:48:59 PM) Wonder if Simonson will finally shut down his law practice. If he tries to do both he will fail.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/22/2009 1:29:07 PM) Simonson is truly on board the RNC agenda. He epitomises agenda, issue oriented politics. But that being said, I applaud Bartlett on his choice for Chief of Staff. After all, it is his choice to make. And Simonson's skills will serve him well. But will it serve to unite the city council?
	Report Comment r0rschach, (11/22/2009 1:47:33 PM) Why did Tulsa World post the retirement picture of The Ambiguously Gay Duo?
	Report Comment BetterorWorse, (11/22/2009 3:12:58 PM) GrayNoseHair...How do you figure? This is but one of potentially 16 at-will employees that Bartlett is allowed to hand pick. I cant think of another person better to serve as his Cheif of Staff, bringing years of not only City adminstration experience but County as well. Perhaps the blend of the two might lead to greater efficiencies between the two and reduced costs to taxpayers...that I am all in favor of. I think Bartlett is leading off on the right foot, hiring one person to serve the role of 2 under 'Taylor's regime' (loved that slide by the way TW)...this can hopefully be presented to the public as a savings.
	Report Comment Observer3, (11/22/2009 3:45:17 PM) Just getting rid of one $100,000+ per year at-will Taylor appointee will bring back the helicopters, won't it?
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (11/22/2009 4:09:38 PM) Dr., he'll get 150k,whopping 50k savings, but he'll still hire max 16 employees. As I've said before ONE admin asst is all any mayor needs. Why a General Counsel? What do we pay the City Attorney for?Rupert, he never really had a practice, just clerical bankruptcy stuff. These jobs always go to political hacks and Simonson is the biggest political hack in the history of Tulsa. Never did a thing on his own, just sitting in the laps of Repub elected officials and wagging his little tail.
	Report Comment Dr. Strangelove, Las Vegas (11/22/2009 5:41:26 PM) Agreed Ignatz, I can't believe there's a $50k delta there, I thought it would be less. Simonson is beholden to about a dozen people, Dewey about 6 more than that. Same old same old.
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/22/2009 5:50:02 PM) Whatever it is it will be for a while. Better get over it lest it gets over on You.
	Report Comment Net, (11/22/2009 10:12:09 PM) The Mayor is important. However, the Team completes the package. Mayor Taylor failed by having a failing TEAM. Suggest the philosophy of having to have "At Will" employees to run IT, Human Resources, and Police failed. The addition of Mr. Simonson is the beginning of a first class Team. Bartlett and Simonson will not find a spot on their TEAM for the current At Will employees. They will be smart enough to manage through department heads with some tweaking of responsibilities to spend money more efficiently. It is definitely a plus that there is a Chief of Staff who is also an attorney. Close to a City Manager. Perhaps the TEAM can improve the legal processes for routine contracts. Go Team!
	Report Comment copperhead, (11/23/2009 1:11:08 AM) Bartlett noting Simonson, "will be available to offer legal advice," seems to set the stage for legal clashes with the city attorney, or possibly hint she's on her way out too? . With Simonson's considerable city, county experience, might consolidation be on the horizon? . This mix may just prove interesting!
	Report Comment Rocky 75, Hulbert (11/23/2009 4:42:39 PM) Observer3 FYI..when they grounded the chopper it was full of gas, insurance paid in full and had been overhauled not long before it was grounded. Basically no cost to fly for some time because everything was paid up. It was grounded like the horses were sold because Mayor Taylor has an ax to grind with the PD. You dont have to go any farther than the Cheifs remodeling their offices which by the way would have cost almost 100k. There is light at the end of this dark era. Soon we will have a new Mayor who by all accounts have a better relationship with PD. All the recent problems stem from poor leadership at city hall and on the PD at the top. Go Dewy go..and godbye Ms. Taylor happy flying on your broom!
	Report Comment photosmart, (11/24/2009 10:15:35 PM) For some reason I thought the mayor got 13 puppets, to hear its 16 makes me want to get a petition together to change the city charter. Why in the world do you need 16 puppets when you have department heads that are supposed to report to the mayor. Sure, this is a big city and all, but I can think of several places that 2.5-3 million in salaries and benifits could go, like actually fixing a pot hole and not patching it. 3 puppets is a good number, I'm seriously going to look in to this...

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